question about underwater photography

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:04 pm

HI all-- for the past several years i have looked jealously at so many beautiful underwater pictures that you all have shared-- seriously some of the pictures here are truly amazing! I just invested in my first 'serious' (well to me) camera that will go underwater, a Canon d-20-- i am wondering if you guys could give me some pointers (i have yet to read the manual-- so maybe some of my questiosn will be answered there-- ) when you are taking pictures underwater do you generally use a flash ? when snorkeling i think i would find it hard to stay 'still' to shoot a picture- how do you manage to get the shots you get?
any other advice you can offer is much appreciated......2 weeks cannot come soon enough.

Joppa · Post by **Joppa** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:50 pm

I had the D10 and was able to take some really good pictures with it. I don't think the d10 had the capability to use flash underwater, if it does I don't think I ever used it. VIsiblity is best on a sunny day and in shallower water. My best advice is to just take tons of pictures and weed out the ones that you don't want. Sometimes you just get lucky. Editing after can clean up some photos that might not otherwise be usable. Good Luck.

augie · Post by **augie** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:04 pm

I believe that you have three flash choices - fill (always on), off (never on), and auto (camera decides whether to fire the flash or not).

Most of the pictures you'll likely take will be on/near the surface and, hopefully, with good light from the sun. Even so, you may want to start with flash set to "auto" until you get a feel for when you do/don't need it, and for when you definitely don't want it on.

Good advice above - take a TON of pictures - by doing that, I usually end up with at least a few acceptable ones!

Learn to hover in the water so that you don't scare your subjects away by flailing in the water.

If you can learn to dive down, that will increase your "range" of photo opportunities. If you can shoot your subjects side on or from below them it will add more depth to your pictures than shooting them from above will.

Generally, just have fun with it, and the great pics will follow - good luck!

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:11 pm

Quantity leads to quality. On a good day I get one good shot for every three I shoot. On a bad day it's more like 1:15. Those little critters will not stay still for the photo. Sometime you crop off the tail and other times you only get the tail. (Insert remarks here)

Generally, the glare on the back of the camera keeps us from seeing what is in the frame. We generally point in the direction of the fish and push the shutter button.

For the positioning thing, recall your diving skills. Use what you learned about using the minimum effort to move about. Unless there is a current, you should be able to hold your position without much movement. At least that's what Liamsaunt told me.

That's how she gets those fabulous shots. She lies still on the surface and waits for the marine life to think they are alone. That's when they come out.

JIM

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:21 pm

thanks all-- this is great advice-- i am hoping to be able to post my 'freshman' photos in a few weeks!!!

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:27 pm

I also suggest that you download the photos to a computer or other hardware to protect them. If the the camera becomes lost, stolen or damaged, you will still have the ones shot previously.

JIM

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:28 pm

excellent advice as usual Jim!

bdkane · Post by **bdkane** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:57 am

as augie mentioned, the one thing I noticed really helps is trying to shoot from side on as you would when normally shooting a photo, top down don't particularly look as good - and yes, take lots of pics...

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:53 am

To elaborate on what Jim said, I hover on the surface until I see something interesting. Sometimes things that are hiding in the reef will come out if you wait around. However, to actually take the picture, I dive down and get as close to whatever I am shooting as I can. If you stay up on the top of the water while taking pictures you are just going to get a shot of the fish's top and that's not as interesting as the side view. I have been meaning to try wearing dive weights to help stay under the water while taking photos. Maybe next trip.

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